Pothead device for use on electrical circuits



Patented Nov. 11, 1930 onirso STATES PATENT oFFicE PAUL F. WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G &.W ELECTRIC SPECIALTY C0 OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS POTHEAID DEVICE FOR USE ON ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS Application filed February 20, 1920, Serial My invention relates to pot head devices for use on electrical circuits.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive construction of pothead device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which can advantageously carry large currents.

Another object of the invention is to ar range such large current carrying structure as to permit its ready manipulation so as to open and close the circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the ready assemblance of the device and also for the effective securing of the parts in place.

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the introduction of insulating compound when the device is being assembled or after it is assembled.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a pothead device embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper part of the body portion of the device.

Referring to the drawings I show a device having a body portion 1 and a top or cap portion 2, both preferably of insulating material, the lower end of said cap portion being adapted to fit over the upper end of the body 1.

As a. preferred arrangement the body 1 is provided with one part or member of a circuit opening or breaking appliance and the cap 2 with theother partof'said appliance, so that when the cap 2 is separated from the body 1 the: circuit will be opened.

The circuit closing and opening appliance fitted to the members 1 and 2 comprises spring jaws 33 on the body 1 and prongs 1 4 on the cap 2, said members 3-3 and -41 being made of metal, preferably copper or brass,so that when the members 4-4 are slipped into the jaws formed by the members 3-3, the circuit will be closed, but when the members Z 1 are withdrawn from said spring jaws the circuit will be open.

The members 33 are secured to a metallic Renewed September 24, 192

the outer members 33 and engaging the 111- nor ones. There are also clip pieces 7-7 having upwardly ertending portions or flanges 7 and horizontally extending portions 7". There are two of these clips one of the outer side ofone of the outside members 3, as shown in F 1, and the other on the outside of the other outside member 3. The clips are secured to these members 38 by the screws 6-6 and members 33 are held in place by screws 66. The horizontal portions 7* of the clips 7 rest upon an annular washer 8 preferably made of rubber or some suitable material, and this washer 8 rests in turn upon a ring 9, preferably made of metal and fitted into the upper end of the body 1. Screws 10 pass through the flanges 7, the washer 8, and into the ring 9, and thereby hold said parts firmly in position. The washer 8 ispreferably cut away to form spaces 1111 to permit compound to pass down through the ring 9 and into the interior of the body 1. The flanges 7 are preferably of sector shape, as shown in Fig. 3. Side members 12 12 are arranged at the edges of the members 3 3, as shown in Fig. These side members 12-12 have heir lower ends provided with laterally extending flanges l2 also preferably sector shaped so that said flanges 12, taken in connection with the flanges 7 forr the outer portion of a circular disoor slate resting upon and sub stantially covering the washer S and the ring 9. Screws 18 pass through the flanges 12 and secure the same to the ring 9 other screws 14 pass through the members 12 above the flanges 12 and engage the upper part of the member and so hold said members 1i.12 in position. A screw bolt 15 passes through the upper portion of the members 12 and between the inner members 3 3, thereby holding the upper portions of said members 12-12 in position. These parts may be assembled by securing the members 7 and 12 in position'by means of the various screws and may be disassembled by taking out said screws and removing one or more of the parts as desired. Compound may be poured through the spaces 11 before the forming the socket or jaw portion of the dis connecting switch or device may be attachec to and detached from this ring 9. V

The prong members 4; carried by the cap 2 are preferably secured to a piece or block 18 as by means of rivets 19 passed through projections 20-20 and 21 between which said prongs H are arranged. The members 2020 and 21 are carried by the piece or member 18 which latter is detachably held by a collar 22 preferably by screw threading it into said collar. The collar 22 is permanently secured tothe cap 2, as by cementing it therein. The member 18 is provided with a socket 2 1 for the reception of the conductor of an overhead line and the lower end of said member 18 is provided with a flange25 and between this flange 25 and the collar 22 is a ring or washer 26 made of metal and also another washer or ring 27 made of rubber or similar material. Thus the plug or knife portion of the disconnecting switching appliance carried by the cap or cover may be cleta chably secured by screwing the member 18 to the collar 22 and may be removed by unscrewing said member from said collar. This attachment can take place only by moving the member 18 downwardly or in a direction awayfrom the conductor. Hence withdrawal of the plug or knife portion of the switching device cannot be accomplished by pulling the same upwardly either by apull of the connected conductor or otherwise;

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

' What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class specified, in combination, body member of insulated material, a connector, a-plurality of flexible contacts detachably secured thereto and having sli-dable meansfor receiving a second connector, said first connector being secured to said body member by means of detachable flange members.

2. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a body member provided at its upper end with a ring, a metallic supporting member arranged within said ring and provided with terminal contacts and means for detachably connecting said supporting memberto said ring, said terminal contacts being detachably secured to the upper end of said supporting member.

3. In a device of the class specified the combination of a body member provided at itsupper end with a ring, a supporting member detachably secured to said ring and contact jaws secured to said supporting. member, by means of a flange extending laterally from said contact jaws and screws passing through said fiangeand also into said ring.

4. In a device of the class specified the combination of a body member. provided at its upper end with a ring, a supporting member detachably secured to said ring and contact jaws secured to said supporting member, by means of a'flange extending laterally from said contact jaws and screws passing through said flange and'also into saidring, said flange being removably connect-ed tofa port-ion of said body member.

5. In a device of the class specified the combination of a body member provided at its upper end with a ring, a supporting member detachably secured to said ring, one end of said supporting member terminating in a contact jaw, a detachable connection between said ring and supporting member comprising a flange extending laterally'from said contact jaw and screws passing through said flange and also into said ring.

6; The combination with the body member 1 of a ring 9 permanentlyv secured'at the upper end of said body member, a. supporting piece 5 provided withcontact aws 3.3 and clips 7---'? on the outer sides of said contact jaws, said clips comprising horizontal portions T arrange'd above the-ring}; and vertical portions '7 extending upwardly alongside ofjthe contact jaws 33, screws 6 passing through the portions 'Finto the jaws 33 and other screws 10 passing. through the portions 7 into said ring 9'.

7; The combination. with the bodymember 1 of a ring'9 permanentlysecured at the up per end ofsaid body member, a supporting piece 5 provided with contact jaws -3.3 and clips'7-7 on the outer sides ofsaid contact jaws, said clips comprising horizontal portions 'iliarranged above the ring 9 and verticalportions 7 extending upwardly'along' side'of the contact jaws 33, screws 6 passing throughthe portions 7 into the jaws 3-8= and other screws 10 passingv through the portions 7 into said ring 9, there being space between the ring 9 and the piece 5 to permit the introduction of compound into the interior of said body 1. V '7 8. 'The'combination with the bodymember 1. of a ring 9 permanently secured at the upper end ofisaid body member, a supporting piece 5 provided with contact jaws 3-3 and clips 7,Z: on theouter sides of said contact jaws, said clips comprising horizontal portions 7* arranged above the ring 9 and vertical portions '7' extending upwardly alongside of the contact jaws 8-3, screws 6 passing through the portions 7 a into the jaws 33 and other screws 10 passing through the portions 7 into said ring 9, there being space between the ring 9 and the piece 5 to permit the introduction of compound into the interior of said body 1, and a washer 8 interposed between the members 7' and the ring 9, said washer also being cut away to provide space for compound.

9. The combination with the body member 1 of a ring 9 permanently secured at the upper end of said body member, a supporting piece 5 provided with contact jaws 33 and clips 77 on the outer sides of said contact jaws, said clips comprising horizontal portions 7 b arranged above the ring 9 and vertical portions 7 extending upwardly alongside of the contact jaws S3, screws 6 passing through the portions 7 into the jaws 33 and other screws 10 passing through the portions 7 into said ring 9, and upwardly extending members 12 arranged at the edges of the contact jaws 3.

10. The combination with the body member l of a ring 9 permanently secured at the upper end of said body member, a supporting piece 5 provided with contact jaws 3-3 and clips 7-7 on the outer sides of said contact jaws, said clips comprising horizontal portions 7 arranged above the ring 9 and vertical portions 7 extending upwardly alongside of the contact jaws 33, screws 6} passing through the portions 7 into the jaws 3-3 and other screws 10 passing through the portion 7 into said ring 9, and upwardly extending members 12 arranged at the ends of the contact jaws 3, said members 12 being provided with laterally extending flanges 12 and screws 13 passing through said flanges l2 and into said ring 9.

11. T he combination with a body member and a terminal therein of a collar secured to the body member and means for detachably securing said terminal to said collar, said securing means being adapted to close the upper end of said body member, and being provided with independently removable sections which are removable without detaching said terminal from the body member.

12. The combination with a body member and a terminal therein of a collar secured to the body member and means for detachably securing said terminal to said collar, said securing means being adapted to close the up per end of said body member, and being pro vided with independently removable sections which are removable without detaching said terminal from the body member, said removable sections consisting of platelike members extending from said contact devices and detachably secured to said collar.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of January, A. D., 1920.

PAUL F. WILLIAMS. 

